Dawn's Early Light - A Retrospective of American Song and Dance

On February 12, 2016, artistic directors Asha Thomas and Crystal Petit staged a magnificent performance at the American Church in Paris that paid homage to American music.

Crystal Petit and Asha Thomas
© Discover Paris!
Called Dawn's Early Light, this roughly one-hour preview vividly showcased everything from blues and Broadway to gospel and contemporary tunes. Combined with inspired choreography, it stirred my soul. At times, it even took my breath away!

Opening number
© Discover Paris!
In addition to being one of the artistic directors, Asha Thomas is the choreographer for the show and dances in it as well.

Asha Thomas
© Discover Paris!
Never have I seen such expressive light in a performer's eyes as I saw when she danced to Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me off My Feet."

Artistic director Crystal Petit is also the lead female vocalist in the show. She delivered a moving rendition of Nina Simone's "Work Song" as well as a beautiful interpretation of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" that was coupled with a powerful spoken word performance delivered by male vocalist Jua Amir.

Crystal Petit
© Discover Paris!

Jua Amir and Crystal Petit
© Discover Paris!
Amir joined the musicians on stage to give a rousing performance of Tracy Chapman's "Talkin bout a Revolution." He also dances in the show.

Josiah Woodson and Jua Amir
© Discover Paris!
Brian Scott Bagley of Looking for Josephine fame and Nicola Ayoub also shone that evening, with each dancer providing spark and fire to the evening's performance.

Nicola Ayoub and Brian Scott Bagley
© Discover Paris!

Brian Scott Bagley
© Discover Paris!

Nicola Ayoub
© Discover Paris!
Music was provided by musical director/trumpetist/guitarist Josiah Woodson,

Josiah Woodson
© Discover Paris!
pianist Daniel Gassin,

Daniel Gassin
© Discover Paris!
bassist Jerry Thompson III,

Jerry Thompson III
© Discover Paris!
Drummer Laurent-Emmanuel "Tilo" Berthelo,

Laurent-Emmanuel "Tilo" Berthelo
© Discover Paris!
and guest violinist Tarani Merriweather Woodson.

Tarani Merriweather Woodson
© Discover Paris!
The group is seeking funds to support the production of the full-length version of Dawn's Early Light.

For more information, visit the Web site www.dawnsearlylight-production.com.

Triumphant cast
© Discover Paris!
************

Entrée to Black Paris!™ is a Discover Paris! blog.

If you like this posting, share it with your friends by using one of the social media links below!

Brian Scott Bagley - the First Burlesque Show Man of Paris

The irrepressible Brian Scott Bagley heats up the stage every Wednesday night at the chic Très Honoré Bar* (also known as THB) in the 1st arrondissement.

Brian Scott Bagley
Image courtesy of Nicolas Mougenot
He partners with THB's artistic director, Rocco de Robien, to host an open mike show for amateurs and professionals in this plush nightspot that reproduces the atmosphere of a 1920s speakeasy. It is called The Buzz and audiences are sure to be buzzing when they leave Brian's electrifying productions.

Flier for the January 22 production of The Buzz
Image courtesy of Brian Scott Bagley
Brian is perhaps best known around town for his choreography and dancing in Jérôme Savary's Looking for Josephine. He also played Josephine Baker in the burlesque show La Gentry de Paris Revue with Dita von Teese. Brian is somewhat fanatical about Baker, as his 2013 Christmas video shows!


These days, Brian is not only performing at THB, but also producing his fellow Baltimore native Marvin Parks at Paris nightspots.

Parks' music is heavily influenced by singing greats such as Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, and Sarah Vaughan. He has performed at Café Universel, L'Entrepôt, and the Duc des Lombards over the past several weeks. His most recent performance was at the Café de Paris on January 28th.

Click HERE to listen to Parks' rendition of "Summertime" from his current release The Very Thought of You. Then catch him performing live at

Le Bistro 92
92 rue de Turenne
75003 Paris
March 15 at 8 PM

and

Le Chat Noir
76, rue Jean Pierre Timbaud
75011 Paris
March 18 at 8 PM

Brian is still doing theater, with most of his shows playing in Germany and Nantes at present. He continues to do one-nighters in Paris and his risqué performances have not gone unnoticed by the press. Click HERE to see an article about his shows at THB in Le Figaro (in French).

Très Honoré Bar
35 Place du Marché St-Honoré
75001 Paris
Metro: Tuileries (Line 1)
Hours: Daily from 6:30 PM until 2 AM

*THB is associated with a restaurant and salon, both of which are at the same address and are sumptuously and fancifully decorated.

************

Entrée to Black Paris!™ is a Discover Paris! blog.

If you like this posting, share it with your friends by using one of the social media links below!